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Vote for your favourite from this selection of 30 Aberdeen restaurants.
The Albyn
11 Albyn Place, Aberdeen
Your comments
"Had a great experience at the Albyn. I was there for an anniversary celebration with 7 friends and the food, service and atmosphere were great. As it was a Friday they had a live band on which was great as it meant we did not have to move all night and enjoyed some dancing and people watching as well! Would highly recommend and will definitly be back."
Happyeater, Aberdeen - 21 October 2009
"Having dined at the Albyn last year and had a brilliant time with impeccable service, I booked the restaurant again for a birthday celebtration and took 9 family and friends along. The restaurant was busy and had a great atmosphere, we were unfortunately restricted to a set menu because we were over 10 but the choice was still reasonable. The service initially was great but it all started to go downhill when the main courses arrived... except mine! Dessert orders were taken and again... one was missing. After that, the staff seemed to disappear. We tried for a good 15 - 20 mins to get someone's attention so we could get our bill. Eventually, we managed to get the attention of what seemed to be the only person serving in the restaurant, got the bill which was reasonable. It was 1st class the last time we went so not sure what happened this time... maybe just a bad night but at those prices, we won't be chancing our luck again."
The Wee Lassie, Aberdeen - May 26, 2008
"This restaurant/Bar/Club has been open for some time now, however, we've never really considered trying it. Went for lunch a few weeks ago and I am now a regular! The pasta dishes are so full of flavour and cooked to perfection, something that regularly spoils pasta is overcooking by some restaurants. The battered fish and home cut chunky fries are the finest in Aberdeen. (Even better than Ferryhill House!!) We are just about to go for lunch now, and guess where?"
Miguel, Aberdeen - May 7, 2008
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The Ashvale
Great Western Road, Aberdeen
We were contacted by angry Ashvale fans from as far afield as Switzerland and California demanding why The Ashvale was not originally listed. This award-winning restaurant serves traditional fish and chips, with the option of steaks and other 'catch-alls' for land lubbers.
If traditional deep fried British fish and chips are your desire, this is one of the best places in the UK.
Why did we not list it before? Simply that deep fried British fish and chips are not particularly our desire for eating out of an evening. For take away, well... that's a different matter... that's when we DO got to the Ashvale!!
Your comments
"For a downhome experience and the best fish and chips in the country, Ashvale's is the place. The deep fried haggis balls are an excellent starter here, and the sticky toffee pudding is very good. The Jumbo Haddock and the 6 oz. Cod are the best on the menu. For adventurous types, they can go for the 1 lb. cod, affectionately termed 'The Whale'. The staff are a little overworked, but efficient. The restaurant itself is built for the working class, but all clientele will enjoy the experience."
ixfiddle, London - June 18, 2009
La Bamba (Mexican)*****
Crown Terrace, Aberdeen | www.labamba.biz | Telephone 01224 590088
La Bamba dominated the poll on this site for the first TWO years in succession. Mexican and Border Town food, Mexican beer (if you like dark beer ask for Negra Modelo - dark, but not bitter) and a real fun atmosphere are the ingredients for this excellent restaurant.
It's moved a couple of doors along from its original location, but the style is very much the same. It is bigger, but still a busy place so you may need to book. Be quite clear, this is not the place for a quiet intimate dinner. This is a very lifely restaurant and every night seems to be party night.
The nachos or jalapeno poppers are great for starters, the beef fajitas come particularly recommended as a main course.
We can't get enough of this place... thank goodness Aberdeen now has a Mexican restaurant of which we can be proud! The only disappointment is to find that added 10% service is in the small print.
Bistro Verde
The Green, Aberdeen
Your comments
"Lovely food spoiled by the service. Not sure what exactly the requirements for getting a basket of bread were but folks at all the other tables round us seemed to get automatically while we experienced a very long, hungry wait for our food. Courses on the board weren't available and the waitress didn't bother advising us until she came to take the order. Our meal was really good when it arrived and we intended on having sweets and coffee. The waitress then proceeded to disappear back to the bar to eat and talk rather than taking our order. Needless to say we paid and left."
Jo, Aberdeen - August 10, 2008
The Black Olive***
Queen's Road, Aberdeen | www.olive-tree.co.uk | Telephone 01224 208877
The glass building next to the Olive Tree restaurant is The Black Olive, which serves bistro style food.
Blue Moon (Indian)****
11 Holburn Street, Aberdeen | www.bluemoon-aberdeen.com | Telephone 01224 589977
The Blue Moon is located in Holburn Street just a couple of doors down from Holburn Junction at the west end of Union Street in Aberdeen. The first thing that strikes you is how the Blue Moon breaks away from the stereotypical Indian restaurant decor and music.
It's a colourful, informal setting. Being quite a narrow former shop, the tables are lined against either wall so this is perhaps not the most secluded restaurant for a romantic dinner for two - but that's not what most people would expect from an Indian restaurant.
The service is attentive, the choice is wide and varied, the food is good and the Kingfisher Indian beer is cold. What more could you want from an Indian restaurant?
Boars Head Restaurant *****
Kinmuck, Near Inverurie | www.theboars-head.co.uk | Telephone 01224 791235
An old country pub on the Fintray to Keithhall Road near Kintore and Inverurie. Offers bar meals and a la carte dining. Open six days Tuesday to Sunday, details on website.
Borsalino ****
North Deeside Road, Peterculter, Aberdeen | Telephone 01224 732902
Quite a long way out from the centre of town, but easy to find by car, this little Italian restaurant is in the Peterculter area of Aberdeen.
To get there, head out the A93 Braemar road, through Cults, Bieldside, Milltimber and then Culter. Borsalino is on the left just after the Rob Roy bridge - as you leave Peterculter, heading to Banchory.
The restaurant is in an unusual wooden building. This wood lined interior adds to the unique character and informality of the dining room. The food is good authentic Italian cuisine. We can particularly recommend pastas and the pizzas.
Brig of Don
739 King Street, Aberdeen
Your comments
"We went in a large family group 8 adults and 2 children to this family-friendly restaurant. It was almost empty but after we had ordered the server (who was very helpful and clearly embarrassed about our poor experience) told us three of the main courses where not available. Two members of our group ordered the same chicken dish both when they came were inedible (thought they had been left on the hot plate too long). We asked for replacements one was okay the other was still inedible so that person, who was so fed up by this time, ended up eating nothing."
Lynne, Aberdeen - January 12, 2009
The Broadstraik Inn****
Elrick, Westhill, Aberdeen | Telephone 01224 743217
The Broadstraik Inn has been a popular eatery on the west side of Aberdeen for may years. This may have the merest passing resemblance to the chains of food-serving pubs that have sprung up all over the country. But not only is the Broadstraik more genuine (that is a real old pub that has been extended, rather than a modern building made to look like an old pub) but the welcome was more like a restaurant.
The food choice was good and every one of us in our party of four was delighted with the quality of our Saturday lunches. Adding to our delight was the note at the bottom of the menu that listed the local suppliers that the Broadstraik uses. The meat, for example, had come from Paul Smith, the family butcher less than half a mile away. That added to our pleasure of supporting local businesses offering very high standards.
Bugles
West High Street, Inverurie
In the bar-food style of catering, Bugles is a popular eatery in the centre of Inverurie. The food was of the standard you would expect from the decor - filling rather than tantalising the palate. Added amusement is created by the plethora of signs laying down the law about what you can and cannot do in the restaurant!
Your comments
"Bugles is 'our local' as it does really good pub-style food. The food isn't 5 star, however its decent enough and is filling so excellent for family dining. The service is always good with polite, attentive staff. Dress is casual so its a great place to stop off at if on your way back from somewhere. Ask to sit in the conservatory as this is much nicer than the dimly lit back parts."
Jen, Insch - 8 June 2009
Cafe 52
52 The Green, Aberdeen
Your comments
"After Howies, this is my favourite restaurant in Aberdeen. The food and service are consistently brilliant and the ambience is chilled and cosy. The staff are friendly and always pleased to see you. I only wish the lunch menu would change more often and incorporate more juicy dishes. If i wanted soup and a sandwich i would head round the corner to La Bonne Baguette. I know the team at Cafe 52 have more imagination so lets see what they do. Thats my only gripe......if you could call it one."
Leela, Aberdeen - June 24, 2007
"I stumbled across Cafe 52 2 years ago and have been back for every special occasion since. The food is utterly fantastic with a highly imaginative menu, the combination of flavours in every dish leave you wondering why you didn't know about it before. The desserts however are the piece de resistance and despite the slightly disappointing lack of chocolate based puds they are always a mouth watering delight. Besides eating a slab of chocolate after licking your substantial starter and main course clean probably isn't a good thing!
Mel, Aberdeen - January 31, 2007
Cafe Boheme
Windmill Brae, Aberdeen
Your comments
"The restaurant has great character in terms of their food, quality of service and decoration. Staff are friendly and always work with smiles. Just from the look of their faces you can tell that they are proud of their restaurant and the food they serve. Great value for early dinner menu. Only around £16 for a 3 course meal, but of surprising quality, both in appearance and taste. I will bring my parents to this restaurant when they come to visit me."
Samuel, Aberdeen - May 16, 2008
Cafe Montmartre
58-60 Justice Mill Lane, Aberdeen | www.cafe-montmartre.co.uk | Tel 01224 584599
In the former Les Amis premises, in Justice Mill Lane right in the west end of Aberdeen.
Your comments
"The cafe is still undergoing some work, most noticeable by the loud drill and scaffolding in front on the walk. The drill was quite a conversation killer. However, this should be gone in due time. Our order was not submitted to the kitchen correctly and it was some time before our starters were served. In the meantime, the owner offered us complimentary olives and bread due to the mistake, and this without a complaint from us.
"The starters, once served, were the pan-fried tiger prawns and the fois grais. Both were delectable in taste and presentation. Our mains consisted of the salmon special and the dover sole. Both were very good, and the potatoes and broccoli/carrot vegetable dishes were fresh and delicious.
"The menu is limited in scope. All of the steak mains only came with chips, and only one dish included chicken, albeit this was not the main ingredient. Guinea fowl, lamb, venison, and rabbit were the other meats available in plentiful supply. The decor was nice, and the service was adequate. Alas, we ate so much there was no room left for dessert. This restaurant is good, and deserves a repeat try."
ixfiddle, London - June 19, 2009
Cafe Zaika
281 George Street, Aberdeen
Your comments
"Jewel in the town for indian cuisine"
Curryholic, Aberdeen - October 25, 2009
Carmelite Hotel***
7 Stirling Street, Aberdeen AB11 6JU
The restaurant in the Carmelite Hotel, right in the centre of Aberdeen, within easy walking distance of the station andthe main shopping malls. I felt the restaurant was almost too minamalist. I prefer an ambience that is a bit special.
That said the food was good and the service friendly, although there was one false start with the wrong starter and mustard had to be requested for the steaks (most restaurants would offer). The price of just over £30 per person for two courses, including steaks, coffee and wine, seemed reasonable.
Carmines (Italian)****
Union Terrace, Aberdeen | Telephone 01224 624145
Open only until 7.30pm (closed Mondays), Carmines is a tiny, cramped hole-in-the-wall cafe with a wonderful, unpretentious Italian café atmosphere.
Here, the owner berates and teases his guests (with good humour!). Occasionally he even bursts into song while cooking! (Particularly memorable was the gentle teasing of a friend with a broken wrist, struggling to eat his pizza. But, heart of gold - the owner whisked the pizza away and returned it in a jiffy, cut it into fork sized pieces!)
The food is simple, pizzas and pasta rule - but excellent. We particularly like the pizzas which are more authentic Italian than any pizza chain could produce!
Seating being very limited, booking is possible, but don't be surprised if you are still told "five minutes" when you arrive and you are invited to wait out on the pavement! (But beware, Mr Carmine's "five minutes" can prove quite elastic!)
The restaurant has no licence but you can take your own wine to drink with the meal.
Your comments
"Absolutely the best for pizzas in the world. I have been going there for 20 years.....right after he opened. Carmine is one of the nicest restaurant owners I have ever come accross. He always has a smile for everyone and I love his sense of humour. I couldn't tell you what his pasta or lasagne tastes like because I ordered a Montanara Pizza when I first went and have never been allowed anything else. He has my pizza in the oven as soon as I walk in....I love it. Everyone I have brought there loves the food and they have tasted the rest of the menu.
Chunky, Inverbervie - July 11, 2007
"Carmines food is delicious we have been going since he opened. But the last time he overstepped the mark into rudeness which was very dissapointing because we were very regular customers. Since then we havent been back."
the truth about restaurants, aberdeen - February 2, 2007
Casa Salvatore (Italian)
Ellon | Telephone 01358 722737
Recently sold by the owner who used to serenade his diners.
Your comments
"Excellent Italian Restaurant! This restaurant came highly recommended to me and I have been back many times. All dishes are freshly prepared from scratch and are truly delicious. Staff are friendly and attentive and nothing is too much trouble for them. The highlight is the owner (from Sicily) singing Italian songs (Editor's note - see above, he has now sold the restaurant) in the restaurant to entertain the customers!! Only bad point is that booking is essential for the weekend. 5 stars!"
chunkymonkey, Ellon - March 4, 2007
Castle Fraser Restaurant
Sauchen AB517LD | www.castlefraserrestaurant.com
Your comments
"Very new restaurant situated inside Castle Fraser (NTS property) and privately run by the people from Cafe Kintore (french restaurant). Very good quality fine dining food served in amazing surrounding, if u can get a table go for it. I predict that in few month u will ave no chance to get a table due to the attention is going to get in the press. By the way u ave to bring your own wine. The waiting staff was young but very efficient and price very low for a set menu about 25 pound i think.
einz steinger, maryculter - September 10, 2009